U.S. patent application number 15/800519 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-17 for vehicle seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. The applicant listed for this patent is TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Keita IWASAKI, Keisuke TODA.
Application Number | 20180134189 15/800519 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60262840 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180134189 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IWASAKI; Keita ; et
al. |
May 17, 2018 |
Vehicle Seat
Abstract
A vehicle seat includes a headrest body provided at an upper
portion of a seat back rotatably supported by a seat cushion on
which an occupant is seated. The headrest body is covered with a
skin material. The headrest body includes a driving body that is
configured to form a swelling portion that is a portion of the skin
material in a seat-height direction swelling toward a front side of
the seat at a surface of a seat front side of the skin material and
change a formation position of the swelling portion in the
seat-height direction by being operated inside the headrest
body.
Inventors: |
IWASAKI; Keita; (Toyota-shi,
JP) ; TODA; Keisuke; (Kariya-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Toyota-shi
Kariya-shi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Toyota-shi
JP
TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Kariya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
60262840 |
Appl. No.: |
15/800519 |
Filed: |
November 1, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/885 20180201;
B60N 2002/899 20180201; B60N 2/914 20180201; B60N 2/806
20180201 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/44 20060101
B60N002/44; B60N 2/48 20060101 B60N002/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2016 |
JP |
2016-221926 |
Claims
1. A vehicle seat comprising: a headrest body provided at an upper
portion of a seat back rotatably supported by a seat cushion on
which an occupant is seated, wherein: the headrest body is covered
with a skin material; and the headrest body includes a driving body
that is configured to form a swelling portion that is a portion of
the skin material in a seat-height direction swelling toward a
front side of the seat at a surface of a seat front side of the
skin material and change a formation position of the swelling
portion in the seat-height direction by being operated inside the
headrest body.
2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driving body
includes a plurality of airbags, the airbags being arranged in a
seat up-down direction and configured to be inflated by air being
supplied into the airbags.
3. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein a lower end
portion of one airbag included in the plurality of airbags and
disposed at a higher position in the seat up-down direction and an
upper end portion of another airbag included in the plurality of
airbags and disposed adjacent to the one airbag and below the one
airbag in the seat up-down direction are overlapped with each other
in a seat front-rear direction.
4. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein at least two of
the plurality of airbags are respectively disposed at both sides of
the headrest body in a seat-width direction.
5. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the airbag
disposed at a lower position in the seat up-down direction is set
to have greater dimensions in a seat-width direction in an inflated
state than the airbag disposed at a higher position in the seat
up-down direction.
6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the skin material
of the headrest body is configured to be continuous with the skin
material that covers the seat back.
7. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the driving body
includes an up-down adjusting motor configured to adjust a position
of the swelling portion in a seat up-down direction, and a
front-rear adjusting motor configured to adjust a position of the
swelling portion in a seat front-rear direction.
Description
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0001] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2016-221926 filed on Nov. 14, 2016 including the specification,
drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to a vehicle seat.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2013-189029 (JP 2013-189029 A) discloses a neck support device. In
the neck support device, a neck support that supports the neck of
an occupant is provided between a seat back and a headrest of a
vehicle seat. The neck support is movable substantially in a seat
up-down direction and is fixed by fastening a fastening bolt.
Accordingly, the neck support can be disposed according to the
position of the neck of the occupant, and thus the neck can be
appropriately supported.
SUMMARY
[0004] However, in the configuration disclosed in JP 2013-189029 A,
when the height of the neck support is adjusted, the fastening bolt
needs to be loosened and then fastened after the neck support is
moved, which results in an increase in time and effort to adjust
the position of the neck support. Therefore, the related art has
room for improvement in the aspect described above.
[0005] The disclosure provides a vehicle seat capable of easily
adjusting the position of a portion that supports the neck of an
occupant.
[0006] An aspect of the disclosure relates to a vehicle seat
including a headrest body provided at an upper portion of a seat
back rotatably supported by a seat cushion on which an occupant is
seated. The headrest body is covered with a skin material. The
headrest body includes a driving body that is configured to form a
swelling portion that is a portion of the skin material in a
seat-height direction swelling toward a front side of the seat at a
surface of a seat front side of the skin material and change a
formation position of the swelling portion in the seat-height
direction by being operated inside the headrest body.
[0007] According to the aspect of the disclosure, the headrest body
covered with the skin material is provided at the upper portion of
the seat back rotatably supported by the seat cushion. In the
headrest body, by operating the driving body provided inside the
headrest body, the swelling portion that is the portion of the skin
material in the seat-height direction swelling toward the front
side of the seat is formed at the seat front side surface of the
skin material. Therefore, the neck of the occupant positioned
forward of the headrest body in a seat front-rear direction can be
supported by the swelling portion. In addition, since the swelling
portion is configured such that the formation position of the
swelling portion is changed in the seat-height direction by the
driving body, the swelling portion can be easily moved according to
the position of the neck varying with the occupant.
[0008] In the vehicle seat according to the aspect, the driving
body may include a plurality of airbags, the airbags being arranged
in a seat up-down direction and configured to be inflated by air
being supplied into the airbags.
[0009] According to the aspect of the disclosure, since the driving
body includes the airbags configured to be inflated by air being
supplied into the airbags, the swelling portion can be formed by
supplying air into the airbags. In addition, by arranging the
airbags in the seat up-down direction and adjusting the amount of
air supplied to each of the airbags, the formation position of the
swelling portion can be changed in the seat-height direction. That
is, in general, in a case of a configuration in which the swelling
portion is formed of an actuator, a motor, or the like, another
actuator, motor, or the like is needed to change the formation
position of the swelling portion in the seat-height direction.
However, in the embodiment of the disclosure, by adjusting the
amount of air supplied to each of the airbags using a single air
supply source, the formation position of the swelling portion can
be changed in the seat-height direction. Accordingly, the swelling
portion can be allowed to swell and move with a relatively small
number of components.
[0010] In the vehicle seat according to the aspect, a lower end
portion of one airbag included in the plurality of airbags and
disposed at a higher position in the seat up-down direction and an
upper end portion of another airbag included in the plurality of
airbags and disposed adjacent to the one airbag and below the one
airbag in the seat up-down direction may be overlapped with each
other in a seat front-rear direction.
[0011] In the vehicle seat according to the aspect, at least two of
the plurality of airbags may be respectively disposed at both sides
of the headrest body in a seat-width direction.
[0012] According to the aspect of the disclosure, since the airbags
are respectively disposed at both sides of the headrest body in the
seat-width direction, when air is supplied, the divided airbags
swell toward the front side of the seat on the right and left sides
of the head of the occupant. Therefore, the head of the occupant
can be supported from the right and left sides.
[0013] In the vehicle seat according to the aspect, the airbag
disposed at a lower position in the seat up-down direction may be
set to have greater dimensions in the seat-width direction in an
inflated state than the airbag disposed at a higher position in the
seat up-down direction.
[0014] According to the aspect of the disclosure, among the airbags
arranged along the seat up-down direction of the driving body, the
airbag disposed at a lower position in the seat up-down direction
is set to have greater dimensions in the seat-width direction in
the inflated state than the airbag disposed at a higher position in
the seat up-down direction. In general, in a case where an occupant
having a relatively large physique is seated, the shoulder of the
occupant is positioned near the airbag provided at the seat lower
side of the headrest body. However, in the aspect of the
disclosure, since the dimensions of the airbag in the seat-width
direction in the inflated state corresponding to the shoulder of
the occupant are set to be greater than the airbag at a higher
position in the seat up-down direction, the shoulder of the
occupant can be widely supported by the airbag disposed at a lower
position in the seat up-down direction.
[0015] In the vehicle seat according to the aspect, the skin
material of the headrest body may be configured to be continuous
with the skin material that covers the seat back.
[0016] According to the aspect of the disclosure, since the skin
material that covers the headrest body is configured to be
continuous with the skin material that covers the seat back, when
the swelling portion is formed, the part of the occupant from the
neck of the occupant to the shoulder of the occupant corresponding
to the seat back can be continuously supported by the skin
material. That is, the part of the occupant from the neck to the
shoulder can be widely covered.
[0017] In the vehicle seat according to the aspect, the driving
body may include an up-down adjusting motor configured to adjust a
position of the swelling portion in a seat up-down direction, and a
front-rear adjusting motor configured to adjust a position of the
swelling portion in a seat front-rear direction.
[0018] With the vehicle seat according to the aspect, an excellent
effect of easily adjusting the position of a portion that supports
the neck of the occupant is obtained.
[0019] With the vehicle seat according to the aspect, an excellent
effect of achieving space saving is obtained.
[0020] With the vehicle seat according to the aspect, an excellent
effect of improving a property of holding the head of the occupant
is obtained.
[0021] With the vehicle seat according to the aspect, an excellent
effect of improving comfort at the time of seating is obtained.
[0022] With the vehicle seat according to the aspect, an excellent
effect of further improving comfort at the time of seating is
obtained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial
significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be
described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which a
headrest body of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment is
viewed in a vehicle side view;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which a
first airbag operated in the headrest body of the vehicle seat
according to the first embodiment is viewed in the vehicle side
view;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which a
second airbag operated in the headrest body of the vehicle seat
according to the first embodiment is viewed in the vehicle side
view;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which a
third airbag operated in the headrest body of the vehicle seat
according to the first embodiment is viewed in the vehicle side
view;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the
first airbag and the second airbag operated in the headrest body of
the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment are viewed in
the vehicle side view;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the
second airbag and the third airbag operated in the headrest body of
the vehicle seat according to the first embodiment are viewed in
the vehicle side view;
[0030] FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating a state in which the
inside of the headrest body of the vehicle seat according to the
first embodiment is viewed in a vehicle front view;
[0031] FIG. 7B is a sectional view illustrating a state taken along
line VIIB-VIIB in FIG. 7A; and
[0032] FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which a
headrest body of a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment is
viewed in a vehicle side view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0033] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a vehicle seat will be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7B. Arrows FR, RH, UP shown
in the figures respectively indicate a forward direction in a
vehicle front-rear direction, an outward direction in a
vehicle-width direction, and an upward direction in a vehicle
up-down direction. In the first embodiment, in the vehicle seat, a
seat front-rear direction is coincident with the vehicle front-rear
direction, a seat up-down direction is coincident with the vehicle
up-down direction, and a seat-width direction is coincident with
the vehicle-width direction.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 10 provided in the
vehicle cabin of a vehicle (not illustrated) is configured to
include a seat cushion (not illustrated) on which an occupant is
seated, a seat back 12 that is rotatably supported by the rear end
portion of the seat cushion, a headrest body 14 provided integrally
with the upper portion of the seat back 12, and a skin material 16.
The seat back 12 is configured to include a seat back frame 18 and
a seat back cushion 20 attached to the seat back frame 18 in the
seat back 12.
[0035] The headrest body 14 is configured to include a headrest
frame 24, a headrest cushion 26, and a driving body 28 in the
headrest body 14. The headrest frame 24 is configured to include a
headrest stay 30, and a headrest plate 32 (see FIG. 7A). The
headrest stay 30 is formed by bending a metal pipe member or the
like and is formed in a substantially U-shape that is open toward
the lower side of the vehicle in a vehicle front view. The headrest
plate 32 is attached to the headrest stay 30 to cover the vehicle
front side of the headrest stay 30. In addition, the lower end
portion of the headrest stay 30 is inserted into the upper end
portion of the seat back frame 18 such that the headrest stay 30
and hence the headrest frame 24 are held by the seat back frame
18.
[0036] The headrest cushion 26 is formed of a flexible material
such as urethane foam, is formed integrally with the seat back
cushion 20, and is provided forward and rearward of the headrest
frame 24 in the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0037] The seat back 12, the headrest body 14, and the seat cushion
are covered with the skin material 16. The skin material 16 is made
of cloth having elasticity. The skin material 16 of the first
embodiment includes a seat back front surface covering portion 34
that covers the vehicle front side of the seat back 12, and a
headrest covering portion 36 that continuously covers the vehicle
rear side of the seat back 12 and the vehicle front side and the
vehicle rear side of the headrest body 14, and is formed by
appropriately sewing the seat back front surface covering portion
34 and the headrest covering portion 36. Specifically, an end
portion 38 of the headrest covering portion 36 is folded back to
the front side of the vehicle, and the end portion 38 and an end
portion 40 of the vehicle upper side of the seat back front surface
covering portion 34 are sewn to each other. That is, the headrest
covering portion 36 is continuous with the seat back front surface
covering portion 34.
[0038] A wire 42 is inserted into a folded portion of the end
portion 38 of the headrest covering portion 36. The folded portion
of the end portion 38 and the wire 42 are accommodated in a groove
44 that is formed in the seat back cushion 20 (the headrest cushion
26) and is open toward the front side of the vehicle. The wire 42
is connected to an insert wire 46 insert-molded in the seat back
cushion 20, by a hog ring 48.
[0039] The driving body 28 is configured to include a plurality of
airbags 50, and the airbags 50 are attached to the vehicle front
side surface of the headrest cushion 26 disposed forward of the
headrest stay 30 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The airbags
50 specifically include first airbags 52 disposed at a higher
position in the vehicle up-down direction, second airbags 54
disposed at a position lower than the position of the first airbags
52 in the vehicle up-down direction, and a third airbag 56 disposed
at a position lower than the position of the second airbags 54 in
the vehicle up-down direction. That is, the first airbags 52, the
second airbags 54, and the third airbag 56 are arranged in the seat
up-down direction. A lower end portion 53 of the first airbag 52 is
disposed to overlap an upper end portion 55 of the second airbag 54
in the vehicle front-rear direction. Similarly, a lower end portion
57 of the second airbag 54 is disposed to overlap an upper end
portion 59 of the third airbag 56 in the vehicle front-rear
direction. In addition, a lower end portion 61 of the third airbag
56 is disposed at a position corresponding to a lower end portion
60 of the headrest plate 32 (see FIG. 7A).
[0040] The first airbags 52, the second airbags 54, and the third
airbag 56 are respectively connected to pumps (not illustrated)
provided inside the vehicle seat 10 via pipes communicating with
the insides of the first airbags 52, the second airbags 54, and the
third airbag 56. The first airbags 52, the second airbags 54, and
the third airbag 56 are configured to be inflated by air being
supplied thereto from the pumps via the pipes. The pumps are
provided with controllers (not illustrated) such that the first
airbags 52, the second airbags 54, and the third airbag 56 can be
individually supplied with air by the controllers.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the first airbags 52 are disposed
as a pair of right and left airbags between which a vertical line V
passes through the middle of the headrest body 14 in the seat-width
direction in the vehicle front view. The outer sides of the upper
end portions of the first airbags 52 in the seat-width direction
are disposed at positions corresponding to the outer end portions
of the headrest plate 32 in the seat-width direction. In FIG. 7A,
illustration of the headrest cushion 26 is omitted to facilitate
understanding of the relationship between the headrest plate 32 and
the airbags 50.
[0042] Similar to the first airbags 52, the second airbags 54 are
disposed as a pair of right and left airbags with the vertical line
V therebetween in the vehicle front view. The dimensions of the
second airbag 54 in the seat-width direction in an inflated state
are set to be substantially equal to the dimensions of the first
airbag 52 in the seat-width direction in an inflated state.
[0043] The third airbag 56 is configured as a single body, and is
set to have greater dimensions in the seat-width direction than the
first airbag 52 and the second airbag 54 in the inflated state.
[0044] Operation of Airbags
[0045] The airbags 50 operate as follows. First, in a case where an
occupant A (not illustrated) having a relatively large physique is
seated on the vehicle seat 10, the neck of the occupant A is
positioned at the vehicle upper side of the headrest body 14. In
this case, by operating the pump and the controller by operating an
operation switch (not illustrated), air is supplied to the first
airbag 52 as illustrated in FIG. 2 such that the first airbag 52
swells toward the front side of the vehicle. Therefore, a swelling
portion 22 that is a portion of the headrest covering portion 36
(the skin material 16) in a seat-height direction swelling toward
the front side of the vehicle is formed at the vehicle upper side
of the headrest body 14. The neck of the occupant A can be
supported by the swelling portion 22 formed at the vehicle upper
side of the headrest body 14.
[0046] In a case where an occupant B (not illustrated) having a
physique of about a standard body type is seated on the vehicle
seat 10, the neck of the occupant B is positioned substantially in
the middle of the headrest body 14 in the vehicle up-down
direction. In this case, by operating the pump and the controller
by operating an operation switch, air is supplied to the second
airbag 54 as illustrated in FIG. 3 such that the second airbag 54
swells toward the front side of the vehicle. Therefore, the
swelling portion 22 that is a portion of the headrest covering
portion 36 (the skin material 16) in the seat-height direction
swelling toward the front side of the vehicle is formed
substantially in the middle of the headrest body 14 in the vehicle
up-down direction. The neck of the occupant B can be supported by
the swelling portion 22 formed substantially in the middle of the
headrest body 14 in the vehicle up-down direction.
[0047] Furthermore, in a case where an occupant C (not illustrated)
having a relatively small physique is seated on the vehicle seat
10, the neck of the occupant C is positioned at a position
corresponding to the vehicle lower side of the headrest body 14. In
this case, by operating the pump and the controller by operating an
operation switch (not illustrated), air is supplied to the third
airbag 56 as illustrated in FIG. 4 such that the third airbag 56
swells toward the front side of the vehicle. Therefore, the
swelling portion 22 that is a portion of the headrest covering
portion 36 (the skin material 16) in the seat-height direction
swelling toward the front side of the vehicle is formed at the
vehicle lower side of the headrest body 14. The neck of the
occupant C can be supported by the swelling portion 22 formed at
the vehicle lower side of the headrest body 14.
[0048] As described above, since the lower end portion 53 of the
first airbag 52 is disposed to overlap the upper end portion 55 of
the second airbag 54 in the vehicle front-rear direction, as
illustrated in FIG. 5, by supplying air to each of the first airbag
52 and the second airbag 54, the swelling portion 22 in the
headrest body 14 is formed at a position corresponding to the
overlap between the first airbag 52 and the second airbag 54. In
this case, the swelling portion 22 is disposed closer to the lower
side of the vehicle than in a case where air is supplied solely to
the first airbag 52, and the swelling portion 22 is disposed closer
to the upper side of the vehicle than in a case where air is
supplied solely to the second airbag 54.
[0049] In addition, since the lower end portion 57 of the second
airbag 54 is disposed to overlap the upper end portion 59 of the
third airbag 56 in the vehicle front-rear direction, as illustrated
in FIG. 6, by supplying air to each of the second airbag 54 and the
third airbag 56, the swelling portion 22 in the headrest body 14 is
formed at a position corresponding to the overlap between the
second airbag 54 and the third airbag 56. In this case, the
swelling portion 22 is disposed closer to the lower side of the
vehicle than in the case where air is supplied solely to the second
airbag 54, and the swelling portion 22 is disposed closer to the
upper side of the vehicle than in a case where air is supplied
solely to the third airbag 56. Therefore, by controlling the amount
of air supplied to each of the first airbag 52, the second airbag
54, and the third airbag 56, the swelling amount of the swelling
portion 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction can be controlled,
and the position where the swelling portion 22 is formed can be
changed in the seat-height direction.
Operations and Effects of First Embodiment
[0050] Next, the operations and effects of the first embodiment
will be described.
[0051] In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the
headrest body 14 covered with the skin material 16 is provided at
the upper portion of the seat back 12 rotatably supported by the
seat cushion. In the headrest body 14, by operating the airbags 50
in the driving body 28 provided inside the headrest body 14, the
swelling portion 22 that is a portion of the skin material 16 in
the seat-height direction swelling toward the front side of the
vehicle is formed at the surface of the seat front side of the skin
material 16. Therefore, the neck of the occupant positioned forward
of the headrest body 14 in the vehicle front-rear direction can be
supported by the swelling portion 22. In addition, since the
swelling portion 22 is configured such that the formation position
of the swelling portion 22 is changed in the seat-height direction
by controlling the amount of air supplied to each of the first
airbag 52, the second airbag 54, and the third airbag 56, the
swelling portion 22 can be easily moved according to the position
of the neck varying with the occupant. Accordingly, the position of
the portion that supports the neck of the occupant can be easily
adjusted.
[0052] In addition, since the driving body 28 is configured to
include the airbags 50 configured to be inflated by air being
supplied into the airbags 50, the swelling portion 22 can be formed
as long as the airbags 50 and the pumps that supply air to the
airbags 50 are provided. In addition, by arranging the first airbag
52, the second airbag 54, and the third airbag 56 of the airbags 50
along the vehicle up-down direction and adjusting the amount of air
supplied to each of the airbags 50 using the controllers, the
formation position of the swelling portion 22 can be changed in the
seat-height direction. That is, in general, in a case of a
configuration in which the swelling portion 22 is formed of an
actuator, a motor, or the like, another actuator, motor, or the
like is needed to change the formation position of the swelling
portion 22 in the seat-height direction. However, in the embodiment
of the disclosure, by adjusting the amount of air supplied to each
of the first airbag 52, the second airbag 54, and the third airbag
56 using the single pump and the controller, the formation position
of the swelling portion 22 can be changed in the seat-height
direction. Accordingly, the swelling portion 22 can be allowed to
swell and move with a relatively small number of components. As a
result, space saving can be achieved.
[0053] Furthermore, the headrest covering portion 36 of the skin
material 16 that covers the headrest body 14 is provided
continuously with the seat back front surface covering portion 34
that covers the seat back 12. Therefore, when the swelling portion
22 is formed, the part of the occupant from the neck of the
occupant to the shoulder of the occupant supported by the seat back
12 can be continuously supported by the skin material 16. That is,
the part of the occupant from the neck to the shoulder can be
widely covered. Accordingly, comfort at the time of seating can be
improved.
[0054] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the first airbags 52
are divided into right and left airbags between which the vertical
line V passes through the middle of the headrest body 14 in the
seat-width direction in the vehicle front view, and the right and
left portions are respectively disposed at both sides of the
headrest body 14 in the seat-width direction. Accordingly, when air
is supplied, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the right and left portions
swell toward the front side of the vehicle on the right and left
sides of the head H of the occupant. Therefore, the head H of the
occupant can be supported from the right and left sides.
Accordingly, the property of holding the head of the occupant can
be improved.
[0055] In addition, the third airbag 56 disposed closer to the
lower side of the vehicle is set to have greater dimensions in the
seat-width direction in the inflated state than the first airbag 52
and the second airbag 54 disposed closer to the upper side of the
vehicle. In general, in the case where the occupant A having a
relatively large physique is seated, the shoulder of the occupant A
is positioned near the third airbag 56 provided at the vehicle
lower side of the headrest body 14. However, in the case of the
first embodiment, since the dimensions of the third airbag 56 in
the seat-width direction in the inflated state corresponding to the
shoulder of the occupant A are set to be greater than the first
airbag 52 and the second airbag 54, the shoulder of the occupant A
can be widely supported. Accordingly, comfort at the time of
seating can be further improved.
[0056] In the first embodiment, the airbags 50 are constituted of
the first airbags 52, the second airbags 54, and the third airbag
56. However, the airbags 50 are not limited thereto and may also be
constituted of two airbags or four or more airbags.
Second Embodiment
[0057] Next, a vehicle seat according to a second embodiment will
be described with reference to FIG. 8. Like elements basically
similar to those of the first embodiment described above are
denoted by like reference numerals, and the description thereof
will be omitted.
[0058] A vehicle seat 62 according to the second embodiment has the
same basic configuration as that of the first embodiment and is
characterized in that a driving body 64 is operated by driving a
motor.
[0059] That is, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the driving body 64 is
provided inside the headrest body 14. The driving body 64 is
configured to include an extension and contraction portion 66, a
first wire 68, a second wire 70, a front-rear adjusting motor 72,
and an up-down adjusting motor 74.
[0060] The extension and contraction portion 66 is configured to
include a curved plate 76, an upper support portion 78, and a lower
support portion 80. The upper support portion 78 and the lower
support portion 80 are disposed forward of a headrest stay 82 in
the vehicle front-rear direction, the headrest stay 82 extending in
the vehicle up-down direction, and is attached to the headrest stay
82 to be movable relative to the headrest stay 82 in the vehicle
up-down direction. The curved plate 76 is made of an elastically
deformable material and is attached to the vehicle front side
surfaces of the upper support portion 78 and the lower support
portion 80.
[0061] The first wire 68 is inserted into a first holding tube 86,
and a first end portion 84 of the first wire 68 is attached to the
lower support portion 80 of the extension and contraction portion
66. In addition, a second end portion 88 of the first wire 68 is
attached to a winding gear 90. The winding gear 90 is rotated by
driving force from the front-rear adjusting motor 72 connected to
an operation switch (not illustrated) to wind the first wire 68. A
first end portion 92 of the first holding tube 86 is held by the
upper support portion 78. Therefore, the first holding tube 86
moves integrally with the upper support portion 78. Furthermore,
the winding gear 90 and the front-rear adjusting motor 72 are
configured to move integrally with the upper support portion 78 by
a holding member (not illustrated).
[0062] The second wire 70 is disposed rearward of the headrest stay
82 in the vehicle front-rear direction and is inserted into a
second holding tube 94 and a third holding tube 96 attached to the
headrest stay 82. Specifically, the second wire 70 has an
elliptical ring shape with the vehicle up-down direction as its
major axis in a vehicle side view, the vehicle upper side of the
second wire 70 is inserted into the second holding tube 94, and the
vehicle lower side of the second wire 70 is inserted into the third
holding tube 96. In addition, a portion of the vehicle front side
of the second wire 70 is fixed to the lower support portion 80.
Furthermore, a rack gear 98 is attached to a portion of the vehicle
rear side of the second wire 70. The rack gear 98 is made of a
member having flexibility, and is configured to mesh with an
up-down adjusting gear 100 that is rotated by driving force of the
up-down adjusting motor 74 connected to an operation switch (not
illustrated) fixed to the inside of the headrest body 14.
[0063] Operation of Driving Body
[0064] The driving body 64 operates as follows. First, in the case
where the occupant A having a relatively large physique is seated
on the vehicle seat 62, the neck of the occupant A is positioned at
the vehicle upper side of the headrest body 14. In this case, by
operating the front-rear adjusting motor 72 by operating the
operation switch, the interval between the upper support portion 78
and the lower support portion 80 is reduced, and the curved plate
76 is elastically deformed toward the front side of the vehicle.
Accordingly, the swelling portion 22 that is a portion of the
headrest covering portion 36 (the skin material 16) swelling toward
the front side of the vehicle is formed (see the two-dot chain line
in FIG. 8). Along with the formation of the swelling portion 22,
the up-down adjusting motor 74 is operated by operating the
operation switch to move the lower support portion 80 toward the
upper side of the vehicle. Accordingly, the entirety of the
extension and contraction portion 66 moves toward the upper side of
the vehicle along the headrest stay 82, and the swelling portion 22
can be moved toward the vehicle upper side of the headrest body 14.
The neck of the occupant A can be supported by the swelling portion
22 formed at the vehicle upper side of the headrest body 14.
[0065] In addition, in the case where the occupant B (not
illustrated) having a physique of about a standard body type is
seated on the vehicle seat 62, the neck of the occupant B is
positioned substantially in the middle of the headrest body 14 in
the vehicle up-down direction. In this case, the curved plate 76 is
elastically deformed toward the front side of the vehicle by
operating the front-rear adjusting motor 72, and the entirety of
the extension and contraction portion 66 is moved to substantially
the middle of the headrest body 14 in the vehicle up-down direction
by operating the up-down adjusting motor 74. Accordingly, the
swelling portion 22 is formed at substantially the middle of the
headrest body 14 in the vehicle up-down direction. The neck of the
occupant B can be supported by the swelling portion 22 formed at
substantially the middle of the headrest body 14 in the vehicle
up-down direction.
[0066] Furthermore, in the case where the occupant C (not
illustrated) having a relatively small physique is seated on the
vehicle seat 62, the neck of the occupant C is positioned at the
position corresponding to the vehicle lower side of the headrest
body 14. In this case, the curved plate 76 is elastically deformed
toward the front side of the vehicle by operating the front-rear
adjusting motor 72, and the entirety of the extension and
contraction portion 66 is moved toward the vehicle lower side of
the headrest body 14 by operating the up-down adjusting motor 74.
Accordingly, the swelling portion 22 is formed at the vehicle lower
side of the headrest body 14. The neck of the occupant C can be
supported by the swelling portion 22 formed at the vehicle lower
side of the headrest body 14. In addition, the swelling amount of
the swelling portion 22 swelling toward the front side of the
vehicle can be adjusted by adjusting the operation amount of the
front-rear adjusting motor 72. In addition, the swelling position
of the swelling portion 22 in the vehicle up-down direction can be
adjusted by adjusting the operation amount of the up-down adjusting
motor 74.
Operations and Effects of Second Embodiment
[0067] Next, the operations and effects of the second embodiment
will be described.
[0068] Since the configuration of the second embodiment is the same
as that of the vehicle seat 10 of the first embodiment except that
the driving body 64 is operated by driving a motor, the same
effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0069] Furthermore, since the driving body 64 is operated by the
front-rear adjusting motor 72 and the up-down adjusting motor 74,
moving the swelling position of the swelling portion 22 and
adjusting the swelling amount of the swelling portion 22 can be
rapidly performed.
[0070] In the vehicle seats 10, 62 according to the first and
second embodiments described above, the headrest body 14 is formed
integrally with the seat back 12. However, the headrest body 14 is
not limited thereto and may also be formed separately from the seat
back 12.
[0071] Furthermore, although the driving bodies 28, 64 are
configured to be operated by operating the corresponding operation
switches, the driving bodies 28, 64 are not limited thereto. The
driving bodies 28, 64 may also be configured to detect the position
of the neck of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat 10, 62 using
a sensor (not illustrated) and automatically adjust the formation
position of the swelling portion 22 based on the detection
result.
[0072] While the embodiments of the disclosure have been described
above, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described
above, and various modifications other than the embodiments
described above can be made within a scope not deviating from the
disclosure.
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